Unraveled Travel by Kirsten

29/10/2024

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Pragser Wildsee, Italy

Located in the Dolomites in southern Tyrol lies Pragser Wildsee. It is referred to as the “Pearl of the Alps” for good reason. What a sight to behold. The lake can be reached by car, but there is also a 2.3 mile hiking loop around the lake. The Dolomites in general are awe inspiring, but this certainly is a slice of heaven.

27/10/2024

Sunday Someday

24/10/2024

Calling all Christmas lovers! Check out this gorgeous hotel celebrating the Christmas spirit all year round, with extra Christmas details October through December.

https://people.com/it-s-christmas-every-day-of-the-year-at-this-tennessee-hotel-see-inside-the-inn-at-christmas-place-exclusive-8722840?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_content=manual&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR30srtM9KgCA21k9afbYJx5UY9soO2eW-AgDz6C_HLysyPB6VCCFilAqJY_aem_axHUCrRXXVl6g1sMkG1twg

The Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, recently underwent a stunning renovation

22/10/2024

Tuesday Travel Inspiration today will be my final thoughts on Universal.

I often get asked Universal versus Disney - and they are truly two different beasts. The biggest difference would be the themes/characters - Disney characters versus Harry Potter/Jurassic Park/Marvel. Universal also has more thrill rides/roller coasters than Disney. A lot of Universal’s rides are 3D or have 3D elements; which can be hard for people with motion sickness. I say Universal has more for thrill seekers. However - you would have fun at either park!

22/10/2024

I often try to get photos early in the morning/off times so there are less people in my pictures - so sometimes my photos don’t show how many people there are. But - these photos have no tricks. They are pictures I took during early morning entry to Universal (for Universal hotel guests only) - and it felt like we had our place to ourselves.

22/10/2024

When we were at Universal we stayed at two properties- Endless Simmer Dockside and Portofino Bay. Dockside is one of their value hotels, while Portofino is a signature hotel. I have shared some pictures of Dockside, but not of Portofino. Portofino Bay is designed to look like the town of Portofino, Italy, and you can find nods to Italy throughout the property. It also has three pools and a waterslide.

Our room in Portofino had two queen beds and a large bathroom - while they were nice, it was not as much space as the room at Dockside had with the two rooms. Portofino does offer two bedroom family suites, I just hadn’t booked one. At Dockside we had free buses to take to the park, and at Portofino it was a free water taxi (as this hotel is closer to the park). At all Universal hotels you will have free transportation to the parks and early entry to the parks. If you stay at one of the three signature hotels, you also have unlimited Express Pass. What this means is on designated rides (and there are quite a few) you get to cut to the line. It can be a great time saver. If you don’t stay at a Universal property, you can always buy express pass to add to your ticket.

Is staying at a Universal hotel worth it? I think so. The early entry allows you to explore for an hour before other people arrive, and it is quieter with shorter lines. For us the unlimited Express Pass was worth it as we were there at a busier time, and it allowed us to get more rides in/less time in line as this will likely be my niece’s only trip to Universal. The benefits of staying at a Universal hotel and bundling hotel with park tickets can offer savings and benefits.

18/10/2024

I swear, the me who packs my bags and the me on vacation are two different people. The me who packed has my entire skin care routine, makeup, and a flatiron. Me on vacation has not even thought about the flatiron or makeup, clearly. And I preach not overpacking! Yet here I am… having not touched a fraction of the vanity items I packed.
Anyone else do this?

17/10/2024

I have been a bit more quiet than I usually am on my travels. While I am checking things out and gathering information to better serve you, I have also been focused on my niece. That being said…

One of the things Universal Studios is known for is Harry Potter. If you or someone in your family is a fan of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Orlando is the place to go. While the Hollywood location has Harry Potter, it does not have as many rides or features as Orlando. If you can make it work, Orlando is the place to go. One of the coolest features of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (which can be found in both California and Orlando) is the wand interactions. You can purchase a wand from Olivanders, and there are places where you can practice your spells (and see results!).

We have explored Diagon Alley, gotten a wand and robes (which is a must for any young wizard), practiced spells, escaped Gringotts and the dragon, ridden the Hogwarts Express, explored Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle, ridden a broomstick, a hippogriff, and an enchanted motorcycle. We have had countless butterbeers (so yummy!).

Am I exhausted? Yes. Was this cheap? No. Was it worth it? Yes, every penny. To see the look of magic on my niece’s face as she experienced the world she has read about… priceless.

17/10/2024

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Next stop: Hogsmeade

17/10/2024

Beware of the dragon

16/10/2024

We have been deep in the Wizzarding World of Harry Potter - but more on that to come.
Today we went to Universal’s water park Volcano Bay. I know a lot of people choose to skip the water park, but in my opinion that’s a mistake. It is so much fun! Many different water slides of all lengths and thrill levels, a lazy river, an extreme river, and a giant wave pool. Today was overcast and cooler (mid 70s), so the water park was pretty quiet, which was great for us as we never had any wait times. It was a fun way to relax and recharge.

14/10/2024

One of the pivots we made last minute post-hurricane - we had to have one night in a hotel before checking in to the Universal Hotel we will be in for the duration of the trip. We stayed at Universal Endless Summer Dockside. This is one of Universal’s value resorts. It is themed to be a retro beach house. We had a two bedroom suite (it is what was available) - which had two queen beds in one room, and a separate queen bed in another room. This room could have easily fit six, and would be great to give families a chance to spread out. Staying at Universal property also includes free transportation to the parks.

14/10/2024

By now you all know I am a fan of Disney. I love it both personally, but also as an agent, and it is because of the level of service. Disney is known for, and prides itself, on their caliber of service. They really do try to make things special for their guests, to go the extra mile. Tonight, I got to witness some Disney Magic myself.

We ate dinner at the Coral Reef restaurant in Epcot. One wall of the restaurant is the side of an aquarium. The atmosphere and food were top notch. What really pushed this experience over-the-top was our waiter Rajesh. I have some food allergies, and he went out of his way to make sure my food was safe and allergen free. To not worry about my food was such a relief. But the real magic was watching him interact with my niece. He told us all sorts of fun facts about the fish inside the aquarium, gave my niece a scavenger hunt and a guide for identifying the fish (then helped her to spot some), brought her special dessert, and was always trying to engage her. It wasn’t just a meal, it was an experience for her. For me - that is the Disney Magic. As an agent - these are the types of things I know Disney will bring to my clients.

14/10/2024

We had a full day at Epcot. One thing you can do at Epcot - which was the whole reason my niece picked this park - is get a kid’s passport and go around to the countries in the World Showcase to have your passport “Stamped.” She was fascinated by the entire process, and loved seeing the buildings of the different countries.
Epcot also has many different festivals throughout the year, and currently it is the wine and food festival. There were all sorts of goodies and special drinks to try!

13/10/2024

Good morning from Orlando!
Did you know there is a hotel inside the Orlando airport? It makes a perfect place to spend the night if you have a late arrival (like we did), early departure, or if you are taking a shuttle to the Port Canaveral cruise port.
Up today: Epcot

12/10/2024

We are off on another adventure!
Our plans had to be tweaked a bit due to the recent hurricanes, but we are still excited to go have some fun.
My niece turned ten this year, and per her request we are off to Universal Studios Orlando and Epcot.
Stay tuned!

11/10/2024

My fellow agent Tracey had group space available for an Alaska cruise tour in August 2025. This cruise tour would combine an Alaskan cruise with extra time exploring the state afterwards - a true bucket list trip. If you are interested in this package, or would like to discuss Alaska cruises, please reach out to me.

08/10/2024

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Hotel Villa Honegg, Switzerland

You may have seen in the past year - a reel on social media where a woman walks from the inside portion of a pool to the outdoor portion, and the outdoor portion has an infinity edge with a stunning mountain view. I always assumed this gorgeous view was somewhere in Europe, and I was right. Hotel Villa Honegg is a five star accommodation located near Ennetbürgen, Switzerland. The pool in question is a part of their beautiful spa. It would make for a memorial, relaxing stop on a trip.

https://villa-honegg.ch/en/

03/10/2024

Not sorry!

01/10/2024

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Riquewihr, France

Nestled into the Alsace region of eastern France is the picturesque town of Riquewihr. If this town looks like something straight out of a Disney movie you’re not far off - it was the inspiration for the village in Beauty and the Beast. Exploring Riquewihr would reveal colorful houses and cobblestone streets. In addition to oozing charm, Riquewihr is a stop along the Alsace Wine Route, offing many tasting opportunities.

24/09/2024

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Neptune’s Grotto, Sardinia, Italy

Located on the coast of Sardinia near Alghero is a stalactite cave known as a Neptune’s Grotto. It was discovered in the 1800s by fishermen and was named after the god of the sea. The entrance to the grotto lies at the base of a cliff about one meter above sea level, so it can only be accessed during calm seas. The grotto can be accessed via a boat tour, or by climbing down 654 steps cut into the cliff.